Kawasaki Debuts 2011 Ninja 400R

Coming as a means to fill in the gap between the 250cc and 600cc class, the newly launched 400cc sportsbike from Kawasaki is the Ninja we’ve all been waiting for. Well, some of us might still be waiting for it, as there is no word when or if the bike will be marketed outside Japan.

However, until further notice, we can still take a look at the 2011 Ninja 400R and see what to expect. Just as you might have guessed, the bike inherits a genuine full fairing and paint scheme from Kawasaki’s popular supersport series, which makes it a true Ninja.

The Ninja 400R has a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, parallel twin-cylinder DOHC four-valve engine, powerful at low- and mid-range speeds and that responds agilely at high speeds. In addition to fuel injection, the bike is equipped with sub-throttle valves to optimize intake air. With excellent throttle response and smooth engine performance at normal speeds, the bike is easy to handle under various conditions.

As with its naked brother, the 2011 ER-4n, the Ninja 400R features a short silencer located under the engine and is equipped with a built-in three-way catalyzer, which complies with the 2007 Japanese national emissions regulations for motorcycles.

The full fairing makes the rider feel protected at high speeds, while the aluminum grab bars ease fatigue on long rides.

The bike’s instrument panel has a multi-function LCD display with a sporty design modeled on racing machines. It is equipped with a digital speedometer, digital bar-style tachometer, fuel gauge, clock, and odometer/trip-meter.